Wal-mart Agrees To Construct Missing Link Road In Whitehall

A long-discussed roadway that would connect Schadt Avenue and Eberhart Road behind Hess's in Whitehall Township may become reality.

At the request of the township, Wal-Mart has agreed to include the road in its plans to build a store in the area of Hess's. All that must be decided is where to connect the road to Eberhart Road.

Township commissioners, who heard a presentation last night from Wal-Mart officials, see the new road easing congestion at the intersection of Schadt Avenue and MacArthur Road.

Wal-Mart's drawings show the road running past the Whitehall Family Golf Center and connecting with the existing township-owned road into the driving range.

But township engineers and Wal-Mart will study if it would be better to connect the road to Eberhart Road closer to MacArthur Road.

That alignment, however, would require the township to buy land it can't afford now, said township Executive Elizabeth Buchmiller. The township has asked Gilboy Ford, owner of the land, to give the township the land it needs to build the road, Buchmiller said.

Gilboy hasn't yet answered the request, Buchmiller said.

In addition to Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and other retail stores will be built in a line extending from the existing T.J. Maxx store toward Schadt Avenue.

Crown American Corp. of Johnstown has sold the Hess's in Whitehall to project developer Vornado Inc. of Saddle Brook, N.J., which has said it will tear down the Hess's store to provide parking for Wal-Mart.

Commissioners gave informal approval last night to two zoning variances for the Wal-Mart project.

With the new road, Wal-Mart would exceed the amount of land it could pave over according to township ordinance. And, commissioners supported the company's request to connect the store to an adjacent store, so customers can pass easily between them.